From Ramen to Rice: Eating vegan (& vegetarian) in Tokyo

If you’re plant-based and planning a trip to Tokyo, don’t panic – it’s easier and more delicious than you think. We were braced for a diet of plain rice and soy sauce, but what we found instead was vegan ramen rich with flavor, plant-based sushi that could win over any skeptic, and gyoza that we still dream about.

In this post, I’m sharing where we ate across the city – from quick bites between sightseeing to sit-down meals worth crossing town for – all organized by neighborhood so you can work them into your own Tokyo days.

Akihabara
If you’re in Tokyo for anime and electronics, you’ll end up here anyway. It’s also where we ate at Ome Farm Kitchen. It came with pamphlets that felt a little commune-ish, but the food was fresh and funky. Each recipe was created to feature the produce that had just arrived from their farm and the whole restaurant is vegetarian.

Another restaurant on our to-try list was Komaki Shokudo, but we didn’t spend enough time in Akihabara to give it a go. However, we did grab a fast desert at Kurikoan, a street vendor selling taiyaki. Traditionally, the fish-shaped pancake batter is filled with custard or red bean paste. Ours was a specialty Pokémon Magikarp with chocolate filling that 100% hit the spot!

Asakusa
Tourists flock here for Sensō-ji Temple (ourselves included!), but we had Injoy to ourselves when we went for dinner. It was the first of many dining quirks we’d discover in Japan: Vegan restaurants often aren’t street-level cafés but hidden gems tucked up staircases on nondescript floors of multi-story buildings. If you didn’t know they were there, you’d walk right past without a clue. This particular spot leaned into tradition, advertising itself as a “pure vegetarian tea ceremony.” The perfectly portioned meal, with matching tea, felt more ritual than restaurant, especially since it was just the two of us.

Veganic Monkey Magic was another restaurant high on our list, but with their limited hours (and required reservations) we never got the timing right – while their premise is bizarre, they’ve got incredible reviews. We did, however, find ourselves at Marugoto Vegan for lunch one day and we couldn’t help but indulge in their sake experience, as well as ordering both corn bread and banana bread for desert after our tasty meal! The service was incredibly lovely.

Daikanyama
A laid-back neighborhood of vintage shops and our absolute favorite restaurant in Tokyo – so good we went back twice! Hemp Cafe came on our radar after we heard about their KFC Burger (100x better than the real thing and made with exquisite mushrooms!). We also stuffed ourselves on vegan sushi and an unforgettable brownie ice cream sandwich. When we went back we were shocked by how good their vegan cheese platter is! This is a restaurant I would love to have in every city we visit.

We didn’t make it to Vegewest Cafe for juice, but they look like a great option for when you (inevitably) crave some fresh fruit – which can be pricey and occasionally difficult to find in Japan.

Ginza
From fast bites tucked into the train station to high-end dining that matches the luxury storefronts, we sampled plenty here thanks to staying nearby. I’m fairly certain we ate at T’s Tantan our first day in Tokyo. Conveniently located in the train station, their entire menu is vegan. Their gyoza is tasty, but we fawned over their sesame ramen so much that we went to their Ikebukuro location as well (though be warned that location only has ramen).

Other meals were had inside malls – another common experience in Japan. We popped up to one of Ginza 6’s upper floors to eat at Eataly – no the pizza’s not vegan, but the pasta can be! And I’m happy for a taste of Italy anywhere we go. Another restaurant we ate at twice was Ain Soph. They have set vegan menus, so go with an empty stomach! The first time, I tried their Tex Mex wraps, while Chandler ate the curry. When we returned, I tried their Kissho-Box, which I would recommend to anyone as a unique experience! They have a few other locations in Tokyo, as well as a restaurant in Kyoto.

Harajuku
Known worldwide for wild street style, you’re bound to find yourself in this neighborhood if you plan to do any shopping in Tokyo. We had one of our slowest and one of our fastest meals here. First, we went to Brown Rice Tokyo Omotesando – all of their food is organic and vegan. We were really getting into the uniqueness of Japanese set menus by this point and their slow cook method was divine. Plus the fresh tangerine juice and roasted tea gave us something to indulge in while we waited.

Another night, our meal plans fell through – we had hoped to go to Mushroom Tokyo but that night they were fully booked (we’ll make reservations next time!), so we rushed to Kyushu Jangara Ramen. They have a vegan bistro that had already closed for the night, but their ramen shop is open late and we had dinner in front of us a few minutes after arriving. Just note that most of the menu is meat-based, but they serve vegan ramen. Mominoki House is still on our to try list – they claim to be the first organic restaurant in Tokyo.

Hibiya
We only wandered over from our hotel a couple of times, mostly for meals and to snap a photo of the Toho Godzilla statue towering above the plaza. Chaya Natural & Wild Table is in the basement of the Hibiya Chanter. Most of their meals are vegan, but there’s some fish on the menu as well. They had amazing smoothies and salads and we realized we were eating fresher in Japan than we had expected!

Not far from the train station is Baden Baden Yurakucho – a German beer hall that is not at all vegan, but we got a pretzel and I washed it down with one of my favorite drinks. A russ is a mix of white beer and lemonade and is always refreshing!

Jiyugaoka
Known for its “Little Europe” vibe, dessert boutiques, tree-lined promenades, and cozy cafes – a stylish escape from Tokyo bustle. We didn’t have time for the neighborhood on this trip, but if we had, you can be sure we would have eaten at Saido!

Shibuya
Known for the scramble crossing and endless shopping, it’s also one of the city’s vegan hubs. For another fast meal we visited Izakaya Masaka. An izakaya is a casual pub in Japan and typically they have little-to-no food options for us – which is why Masaka is so fun. They make vegan versions of all of the most beloved foods. Most of them are fried, all of them are tasty. We just ordered half a dozen plates and shared them. They’re located in the basement of the Shibuya Parco mall – they don’t take reservations, but if there’s a line, we promise it’s worth the wait!

One of the last meals we ate in Tokyo was at Vegan Sushi Tokyo, but we wish we’d gone there first! They were so incredibly kind and they gave us a vegan guide, not only to Tokyo, but for all of Japan! We each ordered their delicious 10-piece sushi, but I also sampled three sakes from Nanbu-Bijin, a sake brewery that’s been around for over 120 years (vegans should note that most sake isn’t vegan, which is why I always found myself ordering it at vegan restaurants!). If you’re craving falafel in Tokyo, we put Kuumba du Falafel on our list, but didn’t make it there this time.

Shinjuku
Famous for Godzilla Street and its neon-soaked nightlife, it’s one of Tokyo’s busiest hubs. After our wandering, we made our way to Harukor Ainu, a restaurant serving the tradition food of Japan’s indigenous people. Even though the menu isn’t vegan, I wanted to understand what Ainu cooking tasted like – and this restaurant is one of only a handful in the world, another being located in Sapporo. That said, their menu only lists some of the ingredients for each meal, so it’s best to be very clear about dietary restrictions when you order – or you’ll need to pick around some things! I’m still grateful it was an experience we were able to have.

Tsukishima
Best known for Monja Street, a whole alley of monjayaki – a gooey, savory pancake cooked right on the griddle. Most versions rely on fish broth and seafood, so not a vegan option for us – but we didn’t mind, because we had come for another local favorite – piping hot melon bread. We only knew to seek out melon bread because it happens to be the favorite dessert of Frieren in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – one of our current favorite anime series. Once we learned that connection, we couldn’t resist tracking it down ourselves.

The shop below, Kyuei, is one of Tokyo’s most famous melon pan bakeries. PS there’s no actual melon inside the bread. It’s crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside. It was a bit sweet for me, but Chandler loved it!

Ueno
Known for its sprawling park lined with cherry blossoms, Ueno also draws visitors to its cluster of major museums and the bustling Ameyoko market just outside the station. It also happens to be the home of our one of our most memorable meals. Vegan Gyoza was a priority for us and it did not disappoint. We each ordered the 11 piece gyoza set and two bonus pieces (OMG the mushrooms!) and we were so full we practically had to be rolled out of the restaurant. But each gyoza was unique and heavenly.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my summer stories where Chandler and I taste-tested Japan’s endless KitKat flavors. We tried so many that I ended up sorting them into three simple categories.

Never Again: These ones were a hard pass for both of us. Some were obvious, like wasabi, while others that we thought we’d like (apple), just didn’t hit our taste buds right. It’s worth noting that neither of us likes to mix fruit with our chocolate.
-Sake
-Peach
-Strawberry Shortcake
-Hokkaido Azuki & Strawberry
-Blueberry Cheesecake
-Chocolate Orange
-Shinsu Apple
-Milk Tea
-Tamaruya Wasabi

Worth Trying Once: These flavors were quirky and even if we didn’t love them, I’m glad we tried them (yes, the original flavor tastes different in Japan!). Both uji flavors are tea, so they were mild and I couldn’t believe that sweet potato was actually pretty tasty.
-Cookie Dough
-Original
-Purple Sweet Potato
-Tokyo Shima Lemon
-Itohkyuemon Uji Hojicha
-Sakura and Roasted Soybean Powder
-Itohkyuemon Uji Matcha

Would Buy Every Time: But ultimately, there can only be a few winners (six this time!) and these are the KitKat flavors that I would happily eat every time I come across them. Most of the flavors can speak for themselves, but the momiji manju is based on Hiroshima’s beloved maple-leaf shaped cake, traditionally filled with sweet red bean paste.
-Salted Caramel
-Hazelnut
-Chocolate Mint Ice Cream
-Peanut Butter
-Gold (Caramel)
-Takatsudo Original Momiji Manju

Japan’s KitKat obsession is real. There’s even a whole boutique dedicated to limited-edition flavors that probably would have saved us a small fortune, since we bought full packs for every variety we tried. But if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have ended up with a lifetime supply to share with our friends.

And in a way, that felt right – in Japan, it’s tradition to bring back omiyage, souveniers that are almost always food-related. KitKats became ours, a playful twist on a custom that turns eating into something communal, even long after the trip is over.